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Restoration by a "small group of Bridgnorth C&W volunteers" started in 1989.<ref>SVR News 100 p.35, SVR News 127 p.45</ref> By summer 1990, Steve Downs was "unofficial stationmaster".<ref>SVR News 100, p.31</ref> It was gradually cosmetically restored by the Friends and occasionally opened to visitors on certain special events, albeit with trains not stopping, from the [[Step Back to the 1940s|War Weekend]] of 25/26 June 1994 onwards.<ref>SVR News 111 p.36</ref>
Part of the cutting behind the station collapsed in January 1991.<ref>SVR News 100 pp.18 and 36, SVR News 101 p.31</ref>Quarrying operations behind the station were blamed, and Steve Downes believes the quarry operators did the remedial work. The cutting side was re-profiled, giving the grassy slope we have today. Trees were planted at the top of the bank, to take up moisture from the soil.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=131602261894762&set=pb.100066631855473.-2207520000 Eardington Facebook 24 June 2020] (Retrieved 23 April 2024)</ref>
In 2003 it reopened for trains to call on galas and the 1940s Weekend<ref>SVR News 142, p.54/5</ref>, the first advertised trains since 1982.
On 17 April 2015, the [[The 82045 Steam Locomotive Trust|82045 Steam Locomotive Trust]] ran a special fundraising train, [[The Eardington Explorer]].<ref name=SVROnlineForum>[https://forum.svr-online.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=3298 SVR Online Forum]</ref> This ran between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade, calling specially at Eardington. The Fund ran a second 'Eardington Flyer' on 22 April 2016.
In 2018 the SVR's retained stonemason Philip Chatfield fitted two stone window cills in place of crumbling stonework.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=136824128039242&set=pb.100066631855473.-2207520000 Eardington Facebook page 7 July 2020] (Retrieved 23 April 2024)</ref>
On 2-3 June 2018 it staged "'''Eardington 150'''" to mark its 150th birthday. The station was open to the public on both days with various special attractions (trains did not stop). The event coincided with the SVR's Goods Gala<ref>[https://www.shropshirestar.com/entertainment/attractions/2018/06/04/restored-shropshire-railway-station-celebrates-150-years---with-video-and-pictures/ SVR's PR on Shropshire Live website 4 June 2018] (Retrieved 24 June 2018)</ref>.
Opposite the station platform is a dead-end siding which is accessed by a two-lever [[Eardington ground frame | ground frame]] at the south end. This is released by the [[Highley signal box|Highley]]-[[Bridgnorth signal box|Bridgnorth]] long section token, and was commissioned in 1976.<ref>[http://svrsig.co.uk/svr/Frame8.htm Severn Valley Railway S&T Department (unofficial) website.]</ref>
The original siding at Eardington, which pre-dated the opening of the station itself, <ref group="note">The 1867 service timetable refers to trains stopping at Eardington Siding. No detailed OS map appears to exist showing the layout of the station area between the opening of the line in 1862 and the station itself in 1868. It is therefore not totally clear whether there was a separate goods loop/siding from opening, or whether trains simply stopped on the running line. The siding was certainly present after that time, although the Ground Frames appear to date to 1893 when the name plates were cast; presumably the siding was accessed by simple points levers prior to that time.</ref> had been removed by BR in 1964 after closure of the line, but was reinstated in the early days of the SVR. In summer 1972 under Sir Gerald Nabarro's chairmanship, contractors began work to convert the siding into a passing loop at the then not insignificant cost of £8,000.<ref group="note">£8,000 in 1972 equates to around £135,000 in 2023. For context, the whole section of the railway between Bridgnorth and Alveley had cost only £25,000 just two years earlier.</ref> The loop was intended to accommodate a locomotive and 10 coaches, with a new concrete block-faced platform being built incorporating the cattle dock at the south end. A small signal box on the site of the cattle dock was to be added later. These works would have occupied most of the then car park area, so the small field above the station building was partially levelled to form a new car park which would have been accessed from the road at the north end.<ref name=SVR25/> Later that year, during preparation for commissioning the signalling between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade, an extra token machine was installed in [[Bridgnorth signal box]] to cater for the Eardington loop.<ref>SVR News 26, ''Signal & Telecommunications Department Notes''</ref>
The installation of the passing loop was seen as part of a plan by [[Sir Gerald Nabarro]] to abandon Bridgnorth,<ref group="note">Although officially described as a passing loop, discontented members believed it was actually intended as a run round loop at what would become the northern terminus following the closure of Bridgnorth.</ref> which led to much unrest on the SVR at the time. In fact the connection at the north end would have been too tight for most locomotives.<ref name=Marshall180/> However by May 1973 Nabarro had stepped down from the SVR(H) and Guarantee Company Boards. An EGM was held that month to consider the impact of the proposed [[Bridgnorth Bypass Bridge|Bridgnorth bypass]]. [[Richard Dunn]] advised shareholders and members via SVR News that "''I have no reason to reverse my opinion of 1968 that Eardington was not a suitable permanent terminus to the line, owing to the difficulties of road access and inadequate parking space.''"<ref>SVR News 27, ''The Proposed Bridgnorth By-pass'', R.H. Dunn</ref>
In early 1974 the Board reported that "''The circumstances under which Eardington loop was planned have so altered that it is unlikely to be needed. It is proposed to convert it to a siding, controlled from a ground frame at the south points, with the proposed platform area levelled off to form a loading bank and car park''."<ref>SVR News 31, ''Boardroom Notes'', David Mellor</ref> By winter 1974-5 the loop had been converted to a siding to for PW use. The two points at the north end which formed a crossover were both removed; the former point in the main line was reused at [[Arley]] while the point from the loop was taken to Bridgnorth for use in the loco yard. The single-bladed trap at the south end was not considered suitable for a siding opening onto a passenger carrying line, so was replaced by a double-bladed trap.<ref>SVR News 34</ref>
It was around this time the pre-preservation loading gauge on the goods siding, and the cattle dock on the loading dock, were both removed. Both feature in early preservation images.
In early preservation items of rolling stock were stored there before being restored to use, including carriages [[GNR 2701 Composite Corridor | 2701]], [[BR 4399 Tourist Standard Open |4399]], [[LMS Brake Third Corridor 26880 | 26880]] and [[LMS 27270 Third Open |27270]]; and [[Regent Oil & Texaco 345 Aviation Fuel Tank Wagon | Regent Oil & Texaco Aviation Fuel Tank Wagon 345]]. Since that time the siding is regularly used for storing Permanent Way rolling stock.
==Current and former points of interest==
=== Goods Lock Up ===
A number of stations on the Severn Valley branch were provided with a Goods Lock Up, a small corrugated iron hut where parcels and other merchandise traffic could be securely stored while awaiting collection or delivery. Lockups were generally built to a standard GWR design, although with many detail differences. Lengths also varied, with 10ft, 14ft and 20ft being commonplace.
The Goods Lock Up on Platform 1 at Hampton Loade is pictured below. A similar Goods Lock Up can also be seen at [[Arley#Goods Lock Up|Arley]] where it serves as the station shop.
</gallery>
At one time, Eardington also had a similar lockup. It was later removed, probably after the station became unstaffed in 1949, although the footprint of the building was still visible in the 1950s. It was covered by a landslip when part of the cutting behind the station collapsed in January 1991(see above), but the site has now been excavated by volunteers with the intention of rebuilding a replica Goods Lock Up in due course.<ref>Posters and photographs on display at Eardington, April 2024 (general history and replacement project)</ref><ref>SVR News 100 pp.18 and 36, SVR News 101 p.31 (cutting collapse date)</ref>
===Ground Frame hut===
Access to the original siding was by two ground frames installed in 19831893. <ref group="note">Steve Downs' notes include the information that the name plates for Eardington North Ground Frame and Eardington South Ground Frame were cast on 28 August 1893; the installation date was presumably shortly after that time.</ref> The South Frame remained in use until closure and was enclosed in a hut, similar to a small signal box, with windows on three sides to improve sighting. The hut was later acquired by the Preservation Company at the fledgling Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway and erected at Castle Caereinon station as a passenger shelter. After that use ended, the W&LLR made contact to ask if Eardington would like it returned. The hut was inspected on 11 March 2010 and subsequently dismantled and transported to Eardington where it awaits re-erection<ref name=Miscellany>''"Eardington Station – A Miscellany." Text and Photos – Steve Downs.'' Information on public display at Eardington, April 2024</ref>.
===Locomotive watering facility===
In 2023 a new post and oil-lit and 'Eardington' lettered luminaire was commissioned opposite the lamp hut, to illuminate the foot crossing<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=688938810003841&set=a.429830885914636 Eardington SVR Facebook post 14 December 2023]</ref>.
Sadly, in April 2024 two of the Tilley lamps were amongst a large number of signs, lamps and lanterns stolen in April 2024, which were then added to the [https://www.heritage-ops.org.uk/stolen-items Heritage Railway Stolen Items Register].<ref>[https://twitter.com/svrofficialsite/status/1780580905645429159 SVR X (formerly Twitter) post 17 April 2024]</ref>
===Former Bath Road turntable===
===Pannier Tank boiler===
For some years from the winter of 1978-79 a GWR Collett 5700 class 0-6-0PT boiler was stored on the platform. This came from [[GWR Pannier 3612]], which was dismantled at the station<ref>SVR News 50.</ref>.
===Weighbridge===
Eardington also had a weighbridge, sited near the main gates. Only the brickwork of the pit survives<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=132473445140977&set=pb.100066631855473.-2207520000 Eardington Facebook post 26 June 2020] (Retrieved 23 April 2024)</ref>.
===Swindon works traverser===
In 1978, SVR volunteers, working with the [[Manpower Services Commission]], dismantled and removed a traverser from Swindon Works. This was then stored at Eardington to be used as part of a planned expansion of the carriage works at Bewdley. The plans were abandoned when the much larger [[Carriage Repair Works | goods shed at Kidderminster]] became available in 1985, and the traverser was scrapped.
==TV and film==
